Copper engraved frontispiece and 24 plates by J. P. le Bas on Greek and Egyptian mythological and symbolic themes (all in vol. I
1740 · Paris
by (Occult) [Pluche, Noël Antoine]
Paris: Chez la Veuve Estienne, rue S. Jacques à la Vertu, 1740. Seconde édition. Copper engraved frontispiece and 24 plates by J. P. le Bas on Greek and Egyptian mythological and symbolic themes (all in vol. I). Pp. xxxvii, [2, list of plates and explanation of frontispiece], [1, corrigenda], 518; [4], 496. 2 vols. 12mo. Contemporary mottled French calf. Occasional offsetting to plates. Fine. Seconde édition. Copper engraved frontispiece and 24 plates by J. P. le Bas on Greek and Egyptian mythological and symbolic themes (all in vol. I). Pp. xxxvii, [2, list of plates and explanation of frontispiece], [1, corrigenda], 518; [4], 496. 2 vols. 12mo. Noel Antoine Pluche (1688-1761) was director of the College of Reims until suspected of opposition to the papal bull 'Unigenitus' (1713) when he was obliged to resign. He wrote the enormously popular Le spectacle de la nature (1732) and is widely known as a popularizer of science. "In the Histoire Pluche restated his opposition to the cosmologies proposed by the physicists ... He also attempted to demonstrate that monotheism preceded polytheism" (DSB). "Ouvrage utile à toute personne s'occupant de l'occulte; on y trouve des renseignements précieux. Il est ainsi divisé: le zodiaque, l'écriture symbolique, les céremonies symboliques, la théogonie, la divination, les principes d'alchimie" (Caillet).
A curious and fascinating study of mythology, symbol, and the occult, in a very pretty contemporary binding. Cioranescu XVIIIe siecle 50659; Barbier 2916; Caillet 8756 (Inventory #: 56667)
A curious and fascinating study of mythology, symbol, and the occult, in a very pretty contemporary binding. Cioranescu XVIIIe siecle 50659; Barbier 2916; Caillet 8756 (Inventory #: 56667)